Tata Steel Plant Kalinganagar, Orissa India

Description

Kalinganagar, located under Sukinda and Danagadi blocks of Jajpur district of Orissa. It is rapidly becoming the new industrial hub of Orissa. The place is located about 100 kms from the state capital, Bhubaneswar, and about 30-40 km from the district headquarter Jajpur. The NH-200, connecting the iron ore/chromite belt of Jajpur and Keonjhar districts with the Paradeep Port, runs through the area [1]. Government has planned to convert the area into a 13,000 acre industrial centre. Factories located in the area will produce about 25 million tonnes of steel a year. Along with the steel factories there will be an airport, a hospital, schools and new houses supplied with water and electricity [2]. Government of Orissa has signed more than 40 MoUs with various private companies to set up steel plants in the State. The Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa (IDCO) was responsible to develop infrastructure facilities for the proposed industrial complex. IDCO started acquiring land in the year 1992-94. Although IDCO had acquired the land in the early 90s, only a portion of it had been actually transferred to different industries and the remaining land is still in actual possession of people, who have been cultivating it as before.

The IDCO has purchased land from people at a minimal rate while it sold the same land to the corporate beneficiary at much higher prices. Also, the compensation for land was given to only those who had patta on the land (legal document of ownership). This left a huge section of people uncompensated, as they had no patta over the land they possessed. Another section of people, who cultivated land as sharecroppers, didn’t receive any compensation. After acquiring land from people, IDCO has been selling the land to different industries at a much higher price. As per the available reports, IDCO has sold land to the Tatas at the rate of Rs.3.5 lakhs per acre.

At a protest in Kalinganagar, Orissa, on 2nd January, 2006 the State police opened fire on a protest by local tribals against the takeover and seizure of their land by a Tata Steel plant. Sixteen people died on the spot, four more died in the hospital, and a police constable was also killed in the clash [3]

The project is a joint partnership between Government of Odisha, and Tata Steel. The production capacity is 6 million tonne per annum. The Steel Works will be established in two modules of 3 million tonnes of steel each and when completed, will have a capacity of 6 million tonnes per annum [4].

Compensation Deaths Environmental improvements, rehabilitation/restoration of area Institutional changes Land demarcation Negotiated alternative solution New legislation Tata Steel has promised special compensation for the families of 13 tribals killed in a police firing on January 2, 2006, after it admitting it was facing stiff resistance from the anti-land acquisition brigade over its mega project in Kalinganagar [5]

Development of Alternatives

Put an end to all displacement. Five acres of land be given to families who have already been displaced.

The Chief Minister, the Finance Minister, Minister of Mines, Industry, Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe Welfare Minister be removed from Ministry, and the Minister of Finance and Chief Minister be booked for murder charge.

The Home Secretary and DGP be suspended and SP and Collector of Jajpur District and ADM, Kalinganagar be suspended and booked under 302.

Rs.20 lakhs compensation for the family of each dead and Rs.10 lakhs to the family of injured.

MNCs and Monopoly companies be driven out from the soil of Orissa.

Adivasis be given the rights over mineral resources, land, water, forests and industry in tribal areas.

Unconditional release of leaders and activists of the movement and withdrawal of all cases pending against them [1,3].

Do you consider this as a success?

No

Why? Explain briefly.

Initially, people had welcomed the Kalinganagar Industrial Complex in good

faith and with the hope that this would improve their economic lot and social

conditions. Over the years, however, their hopes have been belied and their

insecurity regarding their future, as well as that of their future generations,